Wilstar's Spooky Halloween Quiz

Decorating trees with witch hazel is not a modern Halloween practice. Halloween is typically associated with activities such as playing tricks or pranks, going trick-or-treating, and dressing up in costumes. However, decorating trees with witch hazel is not a common or traditional Halloween practice. Witch hazel is a plant known for its medicinal properties and is not typically used for decorative purposes during Halloween.

The word Halloween originated from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. This refers to the evening before All Hallows' Day or All Saints' Day, which is a Christian holiday celebrated on November 1st. Over time, the term All Hallows Eve was shortened to Halloween.

The correct answer is trick-or-treating. The tradition of asking neighbors for soul cakes in exchange for praying for the souls of dead relatives in the ninth century is likely the inspiration for modern-day trick-or-treating. The practice of going from house to house and receiving treats on Halloween can be traced back to this European tradition, where people would go door-to-door asking for soul cakes. Over time, this evolved into the modern practice of children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door asking for candy.

Halloween, originally observed as the eve of a Catholic holy day, coincided with the Celtic New Year. The Celtic people celebrated their new year on November 1st, marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, was believed to be a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, and the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming spirits. Over time, Halloween merged with Christian traditions and became the holiday we know today.

In the 1840s, Halloween was first brought to the U.S. by Irish immigrants. This suggests that the tradition of celebrating Halloween originated in Ireland and was then introduced to the United States by Irish immigrants during the 1840s.

The Irish used a hollowed-out turnip containing a glowing ember as a symbol of "Jack's lantern". This tradition originated from the legend of Stingy Jack, who was said to have tricked the devil and was condemned to roam the earth with only a carved-out turnip with a glowing coal inside to light his way. Over time, this tradition evolved into the use of pumpkins in North America, where they were more readily available.

Tipping over outhouses was a favorite Halloween prank of early Americans. This prank involved physically tipping over outdoor toilets, causing inconvenience and embarrassment for the owners. It was a mischievous act that was often done under the cover of darkness, adding to the thrill and secrecy of the prank.

The ancient Celts believed that burning individuals who were thought to be possessed would serve as a warning to evil spirits, preventing them from possessing the living. This practice was seen as a way to protect their community from spiritual harm and ensure the safety of their people. By burning those who were believed to be possessed, the Celts aimed to deter evil spirits from taking control of others and maintain the well-being of their society.

During the first century CE, the Romans assimilated the Celtic's new year celebrations. This suggests that the Romans adopted or incorporated the Celtic's traditions and customs related to the new year festivities into their own culture during this time period.